Religious person and Mahatma Gandhi

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Senior Gandhian Scholar, Professor, Editor and Linguist

Gandhi International Study and Research Institute, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No. – 09404955338, 09415777229

E-mail- [e-mail];

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Mailing Address- C- 29, Swaraj Nagar, Panki, Kanpur- 208020, Uttar Pradesh, India

 

 

Religious person and Mahatma Gandhi 

 

 

 

We consider it to be our duty to thank you especially on the eve of your departure for India. Though a thoroughly religious person, you have never made any distinction between Hindus and Muslims and have thereby won the hearts of both the communities. You have endeared yourself to all by your compassionate nature, truthfulness and regard for all. You have left us deeply obliged to you by your actions and have created an example worth following. We hope that you may reach India safely and, after your safe return, take up your work here again. Mr. Paul then garlanded Mr. Zaveri on behalf of the Literary Society and Mr. Ambaram Maharaj on behalf of the Sanatana Dharma Sabha. 1 A religious person very frankly admits his fault and this is what pleases God, by whatever name you know Him. It should be our general way to make much of our own faults and overlook those of others. This is nobility. But these days we behave in the opposite way. We magnify to the size of an elephant another’s fault which is as tiny as a speck of dust, while our own fault, as big as an elephant, and seems so tiny that we need a magnifying glass to see it. 2 

Even a religious person like Yudhishthira makes the mistake of uttering a falsehood with a good motive, and for that he had to suffer the stink of hell. We see ourselves that numerous murders are committed with good motives. Hence, good intentions by themselves are unavailing. They should be accompanied by good deeds, and that is possible only if we have right knowledge. It would be good, therefore, if religious-minded men and women follow the example of these two donors, find out religious causes and support them. 3 I have your letter and also the old articles which will be returned. It appears that with the cessation of intensive propaganda activity the work on the eradication of untouchability has slackened. But I like it. This work does not require rushing; there should be no rush in religious matters. Only what is done in a calm manner proves to be true and solid work. I think it is necessary to take a consensus of opinion, but I have some doubt about its being performed in a true spirit. Discuss this with Thakkar Bapa and Ghanshyamdas and then let me know. Only a truly religious person can take up the responsibility of this job. Have you any such person in mind? 4

 

References:

 

1. Indian Opinion, 11-5-1907
2. Navajivan, 1-6-1924
3. Navajivan, 29-5-1927  
4. Letter to Viyogi Hari, April 21, 1933